Feinstein Disappoints on FISA

Published: June 26, 2008

In a bitter disappointment, we learned today that Senator Dianne Feinstein and 79 other senators voted in favor of the FISA Amendments Act of 2008, which allows for mass and untargeted surveillance on Americans’ communications and gives blanket immunity to the telecoms who handed over our private email and phone records without warrant.

This is a sad day in the history of our democracy—a day in which Congress has abdicated its responsibility to check the President and in so doing has undermined our system of checks and balances.

We appreciate the huge effort made by our ACLU friends and family who urged our legislators to oppose the FISA deal. While we mourn the loss of our privacy rights, we are heartened to know how quickly our network can spring to action.

We are also inspired by the courage of Senator Barbara Boxer who called on her colleagues to oppose this deal. In her statement on the Senate floor, she described the deal as “a fig leaf that attempts to hide the truth about the warrantless surveillance program at the expense of the rights of our citizens.”

We thank Senator Boxer for demonstrating her leadership on civil liberties issues and government accountability.

It’s important for our representatives to hear from us when they take courageous or controversial stands to protect our fundamental freedoms. Please take a moment to call Senator Boxer, and Representatives Susan Davis and Bob Filner and thank them for their votes against the FISA deal. It’s also important to let our representatives know how disappointed we are when they compromise our constitutional rights. Please take a few more moments to call Senator Feinstein, and Representatives Darrell Issa, Brian Bilbray, and Duncan Hunter to let them know that their actions are unacceptable. You can find their contact information here or call: